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100-637: The organisation operates globally with offices in the United Kingdom (headquarters), Europe, North America, India, and China. Climate Group acts as the secretariat for the Under2 Coalition , the largest alliance of state and regional governments around the world that are committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions to net zero levels by 2050 or earlier. As of 2024, the Under2 Coalition includes 178 subnational governments with

200-521: A phase-out of fossil fuels , including coal , oil and natural gas , and reiterated Germany's commitment to be climate neutral by 2045, saying: "The technologies are there: wind power , photovoltaics , electric motors , green hydrogen ." On 3 December 2023, The Guardian revealed that COP28 President Sultan Al-Jaber had dismissed demands for a fossil fuel phase-out two weeks previously, denying its basis in science and claiming it would prevent economic development. The following day, Al-Jaber held

300-580: A New York office in 2007. Additional offices opened in Beijing, Brussels and Hong Kong in 2008, India in 2009, and Amsterdam in 2022. In 2005, Climate Group launched the States and Regions Alliance at COP11 in Montreal, connecting state, regional, provincial and subnational governments from around the world, to establish an international network for knowledge sharing and driving climate action. In May 2015, in

400-613: A climate agreement between China and the United States ahead of the conference, similar to the agreement of 2014 that paved the way for the Paris Agreement . China published a plan to reduce methane emissions ahead of the conference, but there was expected contention on coal use in China . China characterises coal as essential for its energy security , although others say energy security could be improved through upgrades to

500-653: A collective and deliver a just transition to a net zero future. Members are supported to reach their net zero goals through four key value pillars: Over 420 members are already driving enough renewable electricity demand to power a country larger than France. Almost 130 of the world's leading companies are committed across almost 100 markets are working to transition their fleets to EV and install EV charging for staff and customers by 2030. That's 5.6 million vehicles committed by 2030. CO2 emissions have been reduced by more than 320 million metric tonnes thanks to energy efficiency measures taken by over 120 members. That's more than

600-500: A confrontational exchange with Mary Robinson, chair of the Elders group, at a live online event on 21 November. The Times noted widespread condemnation of Al Jaber's statements at COP28, where numerous countries, including the UK and EU members, advocated for the phased reduction of unabated fossil fuels. In contrast, former U.S. vice president Al Gore emphasised the historical significance of

700-582: A crime at the International Criminal Court . On 3 December 2023, COP28 participants launched a declaration to triple nuclear energy capacity from 2020 to 2050. The declaration was unveiled by U.S. climate envoy John Kerry , and signed by 25 countries. The signing countries pledged to implement policies to extend their nuclear capacities, stating that nuclear power played a key role in cutting carbon emissions to net zero. On 2 December 2023, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for

800-457: A cut in methane emissions . The term unabated is generally understood to mean the use of carbon capture and storage , however the agreement left the term undefined. China and India did not sign the pledge to triple their output of renewable energy, and committed to coal power instead. For the first time in the history of COP summits, the global pact explicitly mentioned the necessity to shift away from all kinds of fossil fuels; however,

900-525: A deal with China to "jointly evaluate international LNG opportunities" in Mozambique, Canada and Australia. The report stated that fossil fuel talks between ADNOC and 15 countries were planned, in addition to talks between Masdar and 20 countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and others ahead of the summit. Al Jaber denied reports that the UAE wanted to seek oil deals at the summit, calling

1000-490: A global initiative designed to accelerate the deployment of electric cars, also at COP15. In 2014, Climate Group launched its global corporate renewable energy initiative RE100 at Climate Week NYC, the same year that Climate Group established the We Mean Business Coalition as a founding partner. Two years later saw the launch of global corporate energy efficiency initiative EP100 and in 2017 EV100 ,

1100-473: A leading oil producer and an authoritarian state without freedom of speech . The Emirati organisers warned speakers not to criticise Islam or the Emirati government, corporations or individuals. Human Rights Watch urged governments to use the opportunity to push the UAE to ease the "grip on civic space and uphold rights" and end the persecution of human rights activists like Ahmed Mansoor . On 1 August 2023,

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1200-535: A midday ban. COP28 denied the allegations and claimed that no evidence of the midday ban's breach was found. A worksite supervisor said most of the work is done at night, but some has to be done whenever possible. A COP28 spokesperson said contractors were required to have worker heat safety plans and weather stations that monitor the thermal work limit , as well as taking into account heat and humidity metrics including wet and dry bulb temperature and wind speed. Ahead of COP28, Amnesty International raised concerns that

1300-477: A potential COP28 agreement to phase out fossil fuels, considering it one of the most crucial events in human history. Simultaneously, BBC News reported a substantial increase in the United Arab Emirates' oil production, with ADNOC, the state oil firm, projected to drill 42% more by 2030. Despite this, ADNOC claims it aims to enhance climate-friendliness, including venturing into renewable energy, amid

1400-436: A powerful demand signal to policymakers and investors to help address market challenges. EP100 EP100 is a global corporate energy efficiency initiative bringing together ambitious businesses committed to measuring and reporting on efficiency improvements. To date, EP100 members have saved US$ 1.2 billion whilst reducing their emissions by more than the annual emissions of Denmark, Italy and Portugal combined. EV100 EV100

1500-431: A press conference in which he walked back his comments, stating that he stated he "respects science" and thinks a phaseout of fossil fuel use is inevitable. On 11 December, the day before the summit was scheduled to end, an initial draft of the final agreement was released. It was widely rejected by most Western countries because it avoided calling for a fossil fuel phaseout; The Alliance of Small Island States described

1600-481: A record level of 7.1 trillion dollars in the year 2022, due to high fuel prices and inflation. There are propositions for a creation of a global carbon market managed by the United Nations in the conference. Some steps are already done. On 6 December 2023, Haitham al-Ghais , the current OPEC Secretary-General, urged member nations to focus negotiations on reducing carbon emissions, rather than prohibiting

1700-456: A renowned scholar of climate change issues, "There was no compelling reason to believe that the 2023 UN climate gathering would be any different than its predecessor and that significant progress would be made. As November approached, the prospects for the annual UN climate conference were hardly promising. In thirty years of global climate diplomacy, never had the lead-up to a UN environmental gathering been mired in such political controversy: COP28

1800-996: A variety of revenue streams. Its 2004 launch was supported primarily by philanthropic organisations, including the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the DOEN Foundation, the John D and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Climate Group is registered with the Fundraising Regulator Climate Group's 2022-2023 annual report indicated the three primary funding streams were; government and foundation grants (50%), sponsorship income for our events including Climate Week NYC plus other smaller events (25%), and membership and partnership income (25%). Under2 Coalition The Under2 Coalition

1900-602: A wider network of national governments and regional associations that represent 1.75 billion people and 50% of the world economy. Climate Group business initiatives, in partnership with the We Mean Business Coalition , grow corporate demand for renewable energy, energy productivity, electric transport and lower emission steel and concrete, to accelerate the transition to a zero emissions economy and help businesses reach their climate goals through clearly defined targets and actionable strategies. Climate Group

2000-740: Is a coalition of subnational governments that aims to achieve greenhouse gases emissions mitigation . It started as a memorandum of understanding , which was signed by twelve founding jurisdictions on May 19, 2015 in Sacramento, California . Although it was originally called the Under2 MOU , it became known as the Under2 Coalition in 2017. As of June 2024, the coalition represents 178 individual states, regions, provinces and subnational governments along with several other national and subnational entities. The list of signatories has grown to 270 governments, representing over 1.75 billion people and 50% of

2100-643: Is a global initiative bringing together companies committed to accelerating the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and making electric transport the new normal by 2030. EV100 members are increasing demand for EVs, influencing policy, and driving mass roll-out, helping to make EVs more rapidly affordable for everyone. EV100+ was launched in 2022. It's an initiative of companies committed to transitioning their fleet of vehicles over 7.5 tonnes, known as medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs), to zero emissions by 2040 in OECD markets, China, and India. SteelZero SteelZero

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2200-411: Is a global initiative that brings together leading organisations to speed up the transition to a net zero steel industry, by members making a public commitment to procure 100% net zero steel by 2050. ConcreteZero ConcreteZero is a global initiative that brings together pioneering organisations to create a market for net zero concrete. By harnessing members' collective purchasing power and influence,

2300-612: Is a project offering a powerful source of climate funding, supporting subnational governments on their journey to reach net zero emissions by 2050, at the latest. It ensures that state and regional governments of developing and emerging economies can join international climate discussions, share their ideas and insights on the world stage, and take climate action where it matters. Since 2017, the project has raised US$ 1million from Under2 Coalition members and delivered 15 directly funded capacity building projects, supported 21 secondments, welcomed 88 regions from developing and emerging economies to

2400-467: Is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, due to its very hot and humid climate. Its average air temperature has risen by 1.27 °C (34.29 °F) between 1990 and 2022. The Red Sea and Persian Gulf have exceeded safe wet-bulb temperature thresholds several times. Other impacts felt in the region are more frequent dust storms , sea level rise and drought . The UAE has committed to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050;

2500-570: Is that the Under2 MOU is non-binding. In December 2015, California and Baden-Wurttemberg , who spearheaded the Under 2 MOU, announced that Climate Group would take on the role of secretariat for the pact. There have been efforts in the past to organize subnational governments to address climate change most notably through the Cities for Climate Protection Program - an effort associated with

2600-520: Is the first COP where food systems were discussed. During the event, the UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action was adopted by 159 countries. Two-thirds of the estimated 250,000 meals served at the event were plant-based. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization issued a roadmap report at the event outlining how to reduce agricultural emissions from methane. Food journalist Avery Yale Kamila said

2700-569: Is the lack of international cooperation ." The climate envoy from Bangladesh described the lack of global solidarity as the main obstacle to stopping climate change, emphasising the need to create a loss and damage fund. Governments expressed concern that similar to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the 2023 Israel–Hamas war may adversely impact negotiations at COP28. Before the conference, Pope Francis issued an apostolic exhortation called Laudate Deum , calling for brisk action against

2800-481: Is to be administered by the World Bank . The host country, the United Arab Emirates, and Germany each pledged $ 100 million to the fund. Smaller pledges by the United Kingdom ($ 75 million), United States ($ 24.5 million) and Japan ($ 10 million) brought the total to $ 430 million on the first day. On 1 December 2023, activists protested outside the venue, calling for ecocide —mass environmental destruction—to be made

2900-538: The 1994 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change . It is held annually, with the host countries rotating among its members. In early 2021, the United Arab Emirates offered to host the 2023 event. Dubai was chosen as the host city in November of the same year. It was the third time it was hosted by a member of OPEC after Qatar in 2012 and Indonesia in 2007. The United Arab Emirates

3000-508: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of what is necessary to avoid a 2 degree Celsius rise in average global temperatures. Organizers are concerned that a rise in global temperature above 2 degrees Celsius would cause widespread environmental harm. Signatories to the memorandum are asked to submit a plan to meet the target reduction of green house gas emissions by 2 metric tons per capita by 2050. Each of

3100-486: The climate crisis and condemning climate change denial . The Pope planned to attend the conference, which would have marked the first papal visit to a United UN Climate Change conference, but had to pull out due to ill health. United States president Joe Biden did not attend, with the Israel–Hamas war and internal U.S. government spending difficulties being cited as possible causes. According to Professor Alon Tal,

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3200-521: The world economy . The Under2 MOU was conceived through a partnership between the governments of California and Baden-Wurttemberg , with Climate Group acting as secretariat. The intent of the memorandum signatories is for each to achieve Greenhouse gas "emission reductions consistent with a trajectory of 80 to 95 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 and/or achieving a per capita annual emission goal of less than 2 metric tons by 2050. The signatories believe these actions are consistent with findings of

3300-510: The Arab nation. The major concerns were all about human rights. One of the participants, Sconaid McGeachin said COPs have become a platform for activism, and reportedly said: "We need to preserve the reputation of the UAE ... and try to minimise those attacks as much as possible". A spokesperson for COP28, called the leaked recording "unverified", but stated that COP28 would "engage all stakeholders". The UAE has been adapting its conference facility,

3400-575: The COP process, largely through the work of the Under2 Coalition and its states and regions. The first Under2 Coalition General Assembly was held at COP21 in Marrakech in November 2016. Since then, it has met every year to maximise opportunities for multilevel working between national and regional governments across the world. 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) focused more on subnational governments than any COP before, particularly through

3500-461: The COP, Majid al-Suwaidi, insisted the conference would fulfill the commitment to create a loss and damage fund, as was agreed at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference . The UAE had initially invited the president of Syria , Bashar al-Assad , to COP28, resulting in widespread condemnation. Assad ultimately did not come, sending his prime minister Hussein Arnous instead. Ahead of

3600-699: The COP28 climate summit, with expenses covered by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group , in which Dubai is the part of Sterling Committee. This raised concerns about potential violations of the state’s code of conduct. In February 2024, Councilors Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas filed a complaint against Johnstone, alleging that he violated state laws by accepting gifts to attend the COP28 summit. This lead to an investigation by ethics commissioner Jennifer Devins. In her September 2024 report, Devins concluded that while Johnstone's attendance

3700-706: The Coalition represents 178 individual states, regions, provinces, and subnational governments along with several other national and subnational entities. This includes more than 270 actors, totalling more than 50% of global GDP. In 2021, the original Under2 Memorandum of Understanding was revised by members of the Steering Group to align with the 1.5 degrees Celsius target of the Paris Agreement. Signatories must now commit to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, or earlier. The Future Fund, launched in 2017,

3800-466: The EV100 programme focused on the transition of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs), to zero emission by 2040. The current chair of Climate Group UK board is Mike Rann AC, CNZM. Since its launch, Climate Group has worked constructively with businesses and subnational governments to drive collective impact at scale and speed. Some of the most notable impacts over the past few years are: Throughout

3900-688: The Gulf state as a COP28 host. The agreement followed the negative criticism of the UAE's decision to assign Sultan Al Jaber as the COP28 president. On 4 August 2023, the company registered under the United States Foreign Agents Registration Act to represent Masdar . According to the filings, the PR firm was supposed to seek to "reinforce attitudes among decision-makers in Washington, D.C., and across Europe regarding

4000-612: The International Union of Local Authorities and the United Nations Environment Programme . At its peak in 2010 the program had 700 municipal members who were required to provide among other things inventories and targets for greenhouse emissions. the International Union of Local Authorities provided technical assistance to the municipalities engaged in this planning. Before the Under2 MOU was conceived many subnational governments had taken

4100-498: The Local Climate Action Summit, facilitated by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The summit, held at the start of COP28, hosted over 450 attendees from more than 60 countries, including over 250 mayors and governors. Under2 Coalition governments from all regions were represented and had the opportunity to highlight their climate concerns as well as to share their stories of success. At COP28, members and signatories of

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4200-593: The Net Zero Futures Policy Forum, identifying examples of progress and best practice across Australia. The Under2 Coalition secretariat itself supported and promoted the Coalition for High Ambition Multi-level Partnerships  (CHAMP), which asks nations to commit to consulting their local and regional governments to build their national climate goals. The text was supported by more than 60 national governments with more being invited to join after

4300-685: The Parties of the UNFCCC , more commonly known as COP28 , was the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference , held from 30 November to 13 December at Expo City , Dubai , United Arab Emirates . The COP conference has been held annually (except for the year 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) since the first UN climate agreement in 1992 . The event is intended for governments to agree on policies to limit global temperature rises and adapt to impacts associated with climate change . The conference

4400-489: The U.S. ( John Kerry ), China ( Xie Zhenhua ) and the EU ( Frans Timmermans ) met regularly to discuss priorities and planning. On 15 November, the U.S. and China announced an agreement to triple global renewable energy use by 2030. The agreement included a commitment to addressing greenhouse gases, but was criticised for not including a commitment from China to phase out coal-fired power plants. Insiders cautiously expressed hope for

4500-460: The UAE allowed environmental activists to "assemble peacefully" at the summit and vowed to provide them a space to "make their voices heard", despite laws that prohibit unauthorised protests. The UAE's appointment of Sultan Al Jaber president of COP28 caused further controversy, as he is also the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). In February 2023, one month after Al Jaber's selection,

4600-449: The UAE might continue to use digital surveillance to spy on human rights defenders and civil society members in the UAE, including the COP28 participants. According to Amnesty International's Disrupting Surveillance Team, the UAE had a record of using digital surveillance to "crush dissents and stifle freedom of expression". Amnesty's view of the UAE's promise to offer a "platform for activists' voices" would be unachievable without respect for

4700-403: The UAE planned to use the conference to strike new fossil fuel deals with other nations. Al Jaber claimed that his comments on the phase-out of fossil fuels were "misinterpreted" and denied the latter allegation, asserting that the UAE does not need the COP presidency to establish business deals. The United Nations Climate Change Conference is an annual meeting of all countries that have signed

4800-409: The UAE's heavy restrictions on protests, which Human Rights Watch called "shocking". Protests at the summit were largely confined to the "blue zone", an area under UN control where local laws do not apply. In the blue zone, local activists used COP28 as a platform for human rights demonstrations that are rare and generally not permitted in the UAE. New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone attended

4900-554: The Under2 Coalition and enabled 65 regional representatives to join international climate events, such as COPs and Climate Week NYC. The Future Fund has helped to level the playing field in international climate discussions by ensuring participation of some of the most overlooked states and regions in the world. Going forward, Climate Group aims to diversify the work and funding streams of this flagship project to scale up its impact and reach. Climate Group functions independently of any corporate and government entities and funds its work from

5000-414: The Under2 Coalition made a range of high-profile announcements and commitments to mitigate climate change. For example, Catalonia and California launched a global partnership for the adaptation and mitigation of climate change, Scotland committed to new funding for clean and reliable energy in three African countries, and New South Wales published a series of policy compendium on nature-based solutions through

5100-623: The Under2 MOU submit their action plans as an appendix to the document this is the first time some cities and states around the world are coming up with plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their jurisdiction. |AUSTRALIA Armenia , Canada , Chile , Costa Rica , Czech Republic , Denmark , Fiji , France , Germany , Italy , Japan , Luxembourg , Marshall Islands , Mexico , The Netherlands , Norway , Panama , Peru , Portugal , Spain , Sweden , United Kingdom 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of

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5200-424: The allegations an attempt to undermine his work. An analysis found that at least 2,456 COP28 attendees were fossil fuel lobbyists, receiving more passes than the ten countries most vulnerable to climate change. Analysis by Oxfam found that 34 billionaires—together worth roughly $ 495 billion—attended COP28 as delegates; a quarter of them had made their money in "highly polluting industries". Sultan Al Jaber ,

5300-481: The claim that the UAE and Al Jaber had been "really committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels". In August 2023, The Guardian revealed that the UAE failed to report its methane emissions to the UN for nearly a decade. Meanwhile, Sultan Al Jaber's ADNOC set a much higher methane leak target than the level it claimed to have already reached. Cutting methane emissions is believed to be a fast and low-cost method to slow

5400-492: The company announced plans to expand drilling for fossil fuels. More than 100 members of the European Parliament, U.S. senators and U.S. representatives signed a joint open letter calling on the UAE to withdraw Al Jaber's appointment. U.S. climate envoy John Kerry acknowledged Al Jaber's selection as COP president was "risky," but nonetheless supported it, arguing it was important to have fossil fuel producers at

5500-481: The country's climate record and human rights violations , such as the war in Yemen and human trafficking . For instance, one talking point instructed officials to deflect from ADNOC's refusal to disclose its emissions by responding, "ADNOC is currently conducting necessary studies". Campaigning journalist Amy Westervelt argued that a newly added requirement to for industry lobbyists to identify themselves at COP28

5600-413: The current annual emissions of France and Switzerland combined. Climate Group has key systems of focus including energy, transport, heavy industry and food. Programmes include: RE100 RE100 is a global initiative bringing together the world's most influential companies leading the transition to 100% renewable electricity. Its mission is to accelerate change towards zero carbon grids at scale and send

5700-427: The deal was widely criticized for not including a clear commitment to "phase out" or "phase down" fossil fuels—as requested by many participating countries, civil society groups and scientists —as well as a clear financial plan to help developing countries reach the goal of transitioning away from fossil fuels. Moreover, the choice to include carbon capture and storage in the list of "zero- and low-emission technologies"

5800-532: The detail during closed-door workshops and roundtables. Climate Group Asia Action Summit is a one-day event bringing together the sharpest minds from across the public and private sectors in Asia to catapult climate action into a new era of implementation. The 2023 summit in Singapore was the first iteration of the event and laid the groundwork for future action. Climate Group consistently plays an active role in

5900-401: The draft as a "death certificate" for small island nations. Several African countries countered that wealthy countries had an obligation to take the lead on phasing out fossil fuels before expecting poorer countries to do so. OPEC , a cartel of oil-producing countries, also urged participants to reject any mention of phasing out fossil fuels. After two days of intense negotiations, a compromise

6000-482: The energy grid and domestic energy market. Talks between Janet Yellen and He Lifeng yielded a decision to enhance cooperation between the countries on climate related issues and much was expected from the meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping later in the month at the 2023 APEC summit. At the end of November 2023, a pre-COP meeting of ministers was held. One hundred delegations and 70 ministers attended, more than any prior pre-COP meeting. The general director of

6100-616: The event brings together international leaders from business, government, and civil society to showcase global climate action. In 2023, Climate Week NYC included 585 events, with over 6,500 attendees participating online and in person. This was the largest Climate Group summit to date with a media reach of 6.9 billion. Climate Group also hosts the US Climate Action Summit, and Climate Group Asia Action Summit, bringing together regional leaders and industry experts to drive impactful climate action. The US Climate Action Summit

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6200-557: The extraction and sale of fossil fuels. As a reaction, Greenpeace published a press release calling for Arab countries to phase out fossil fuels by 2050, ensuring a just transition . Greenpeace said that "The latest research from Christian Aid and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Vienna shows that both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia face a GDP growth reduction of −72% by 2100 if

6300-504: The final COP outcomes text, which resulted in several references to state and regional governments being included in the Global Stocktake and Global Goal on Adaptation, emphasising that national governments should work to accelerate multi-level action and ensure the inclusion of subnational governments. Climate group brings together a global network of over 800 businesses, governments, and signatories working to maximise impact as

6400-405: The first Middle Eastern government to make such a pledge. It was also the first country in the region to sign the Paris Agreement on 21 September 2016. The country has invested $ 50 billion into clean energy internationally and promised an additional $ 50 billion by 2030. The choice of the UAE as host country was criticized by climate scientists and human rights advocates, as the country is both

6500-521: The first two-year assessment of global progress in slowing down climate change, called the " global stocktake ". This type of overview was established during the 2021 COP26 in Glasgow and is scheduled to be repeated every five years. The report concluded that a phase-out of fossil fuels is needed, something that the United Nations had previously avoided saying. Among the 17 key findings of

6600-464: The global call for fossil fuel reduction. On 11 December 2023, Licypriya Kangujam , a climate activist from India, walked onto the main stage of the conference, held up a sign, "End fossil fuels. Save our planet and our future.", and gave a brief speech. She was given a round of applause by the audience and removed from the session by security personnel. According to Kangujam, she was banned from further participation in COP28. Other activists criticised

6700-569: The global initiative for accelerating the transition to electric vehicles was launched at Climate Week NYC. In 2011, Mark Kenber took over from Steve Howard as CEO. In 2017, Helen Clarkson became CEO, following Mark Kenber's resignation in 2016. SteelZero publicly launched with an initial group of committed corporates on 1 December 2020, followed by ConcreteZero which launched in July 2022. Later that year, in September, EV100+ launched, an extension of

6800-509: The goals of the Paris Agreement ; an "energy transition narrative" recommends oil use to be reduced by only 50% by 2050, and that trillions of dollars should continue to be invested in high-emission assets each year to at least 2050. On 27 November 2023, the Centre for Climate Reporting and BBC News reported that based on leaked documents, the UAE intended to use COP28 as a platform to discuss fossil fuel deals with fifteen countries, including

6900-559: The governments also pledges to assist each other with scientific research, sharing of the available technologies and best practices in energy efficiency. The memorandum was developed just before the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference also known as COP 21 or Paris Agreement . The Under2 MOU allows subnational governments such as cities, counties and states to highlight their work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions . Subnational governments like cities, states and provinces have traditionally relied on national governments to take

7000-485: The human rights of privacy and the right of peaceful assembly. Amnesty opposed the "unlawful electronic surveillance of conference participants [and of] Emirati nationals and residents". It said that the COP28 attendees should be allowed to download "privacy-respecting international communications applications" in the UAE that would ensure safe and encrypted means of communication. On 7 November 2023, an AFP investigation revealed in multiple leaked documents that McKinsey

7100-457: The initiative to create a climate action plan . The purpose of a climate action plan is to identify the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the jurisdiction and, in many cases, provide strategies to lower or stop greenhouse gas emissions altogether. Some governments have found that the data produced by the climate action plan increases transparency and helps with longterm planning to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since signatories to

7200-414: The lead on transnational climate governance aimed at addressing climate change mitigation through inter-governmental agreements. Some subnational governments have expressed frustration at the inaction of national leaders and took it upon themselves to create the subnational Under2 MOU agreement. The major difference between an international treaty and the Under2 MOU agreement between subnational governments

7300-424: The legal inability to criticise Emirati corporations in the UAE; alleged covert access to conference emails by ADNOC; and the invitation of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad have all raised concerns regarding the integrity of the conference. Al Jaber stated before the beginning of the conference that there was "no science" behind fossil fuel phase-out in achieving 1.5 °C ; and leaked documents appeared to show

7400-598: The pledge to triple their output of renewable energy and committed to coal power instead. The conference was widely criticised for its controversial president Sultan Al Jaber , as well as its host country, the UAE, which is known for its opaque environmental record and role as a major producer of fossil fuels . Al Jaber is the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), leading to concerns over conflict of interest. Claims of greenwashing of Al Jaber on Misplaced Pages , Twitter and Medium ;

7500-465: The president of COP28, has drawn criticism for asserting there is no scientific basis for phasing out fossil fuels to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a claim revealed by The Guardian and the Centre for Climate Reporting. Described as "incredibly concerning" and bordering on climate denial, his comments contradict the stance of UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The remarks were made during

7600-469: The prior site for Expo 2020 , to host the COP28 climate conference. FairSquare, a UK-based human rights group, released a report based on testimonies and photographs, stating that the migrant workers were being exposed to dangerously hot weather and humidity to prepare for the climate summit. According to the rights group, in September 2023, a dozen migrant workers from Asia and Africa were working outdoors in temperatures hitting 42 °C (108 °F) despite

7700-432: The programme sends a strong demand signal to shift global markets, investment and policies towards the sustainable production and sourcing of concrete. Under2 Coalition The Under2 Coalition builds on the legacy of its forerunner, the States and Regions Alliance. Launched in 2015, the Coalition is the largest network of subnational governments committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. As of May 2024,

7800-565: The report are: Fatih Birol , head of the International Energy Agency , expressed hope for significant achievements at the summit but noted: "[the] geopolitical situation, with many nations at loggerheads over the war in Ukraine , and still frosty relations between the U.S. and China, would make for a difficult summit [...] The most important challenge [to limiting temperature rises to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels]

7900-673: The roadmap "would require Americans to cut food waste and to move to flexitarian diets with far fewer animal products." Prior to the conference, the UAE hired public relations and lobbying agencies, including Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld , Gulstan Advisory and FleishmanHillard , to improve its poor reputation on climate change. Allegations surfaced regarding attempts to manipulate public perception, including that Al Jaber's team had edited Misplaced Pages to portray him more favorably. ADNOC and Masdar also paid Misplaced Pages editors to lobby for changes to their respective pages, although

8000-498: The runup to COP21, the Under2 Coalition was formed by the governments of California and Baden-Württemberg to mobilise and galvanise bold climate action from like-minded city, state and regional governments around the globe. In 2009, Climate Group held its first Climate Week NYC summit to help drive ambition for a new global agreement at COP15 in Copenhagen. Climate Group first ventured in work around electric vehicles with EV20,

8100-404: The strategic value of the UAE in the global fight to address climate change". The UAE was to pay First International Resources a monthly retainer fee of $ 100,000. Fossil Free Media founder and director Jamie Henn said such an amount is not paid to a PR firm "when you're confident about your public image". He said that much is spent "when you want to spin the public to believe the impossible", such as

8200-797: The summit, the Muslim Council of Elders, in partnership with the COP28 Presidency, the UN Environment Programme and the Catholic Church , and under the patronage of the UAE 's president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan , organised a Global Faith Leaders Summit convening 28 faith leaders to address climate change. In September 2023, in advance of the opening of COP28, the United Nations published

8300-621: The summit. The secretariat also contributed to the Integrity Matters for Cities, States and Regions report, which made recommendations for subnational governments to ensure their net zero goals have credibility, accountability and transparency. Through the Local Government and Municipal Authority (LGMA), the Under2 Coalition's focal point into the UNFCCC, subnational governments negotiated hard to have their role recognised in

8400-514: The surrounding "green zone," a conference space for activists and businesses. The number of attendees and the use of private jets by many of them was the subject of some criticism. The meeting was estimated to have the largest carbon footprint of any climate summit to date. Charles III , king of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth , gave the opening speech at the summit. He expressed alarm at rising levels of pollution, saying that

8500-473: The table. In June 2023, a report by The Guardian revealed that ADNOC shared an email server with COP28 and was able to read emails to and from the climate summit office. The COP28 office switch to a different server following The Guardian ' s inquiry. In the months leading up to the summit, joint preparations were held by the United States, China and the European Union. The climate envoys of

8600-482: The temperature rise because methane causes almost a quarter of global heating. In November of the same year, the Centre for Research on Energy reported that the UAE regularly flared methane gas, breaking its own regulations. Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan commissioned a survey of over 20,000 from 20 countries, which was used by the officials to discuss the public attitude towards

8700-439: The users followed Misplaced Pages's conflict-of-interest rules . Reports also emerged of the proliferation of fake social media accounts on Twitter and Medium , aimed at promoting COP28 and defending the UAE's presidency. A report by The Guardian based on leaked documents revealed that the UAE had prepared an extensive list of talking points for organizers to use when addressing "touchy and sensitive issues", particularly around

8800-476: The world was "dreadfully far off track" its climate targets and warning that "we are carrying out a vast, frightening experiment of changing every ecological condition, all at once, at a pace that far outstrips nature's ability to cope". On the first day of the summit on 30 November 2023, a " loss and damage " fund to compensate poor states for the effects of climate change was agreed upon. The fund aims to distribute funds to poor states harmed by climate change and

8900-471: The worst effects of climate change, and reach net zero by the year 2050. The global pact, referred to as the UAE Consensus , was the first in the history of COP summits to explicitly mention the need to shift away from every type of fossil fuels, but it still received widespread criticism due to the lack of a clear commitment to either fossil fuel phase-out or phase-down. China and India did not sign

9000-648: The year, Climate Group hosts a range of global events, including Climate Week NYC , the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together some 600 events and activities across the City of New York – in person, hybrid, and online. The event takes place alongside the United Nations General Assembly , and is run in coordination with the United Nations and City of New York, allowing heads of state and other senior governmental figures to attend and participate. Hosted every September since 2009,

9100-577: Was a particular focus of discussion. Air pollution 's increase of respiratory conditions and increases the risk of cancer and heart disease . In a letter addressed to Sultan Al Jaber, "organisations representing more than 46 million health professionals" said a complete phase-out of fossil fuels was the only decisive way to deliver health for all. Previously, experts such as Edmond Fernandes had urged UNFCCC to make public health an essential part of all climate meetings and policies, calling human health integral to sustainable climate futures. COP28

9200-538: Was convened in Dubai, a symbol of the world's oil economy." COP28 was the largest-ever climate summit, with over 80,000 people accredited participants, up from 49,000 the previous year. Twenty-three thousand five hundred of the participants were from government teams. A further 27,000 were policy experts, academics and representatives of fossil fuel producers, although this group was not given access to official negotiations. An additional 400,000 people were granted access to

9300-685: Was founded in 2003 and launched in 2004 by Prime Minister Tony Blair , ex-CEO and co-founder, Steve Howard together with ex-Chief Operating Officer, Jim Walker and former Communications Director, Alison Lucas. Former Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger , also supported the group at its launch. It evolved from research led by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and was established to encourage more major companies and subnational governments to take climate action. The first US office opened in 2006 in Oakland, California, followed by

9400-495: Was inadequate to control their influence. During the previous decade, the UAE had spent more than $ 1 million on direct climate-focused advocacy and paid millions more to public relations firms and think tanks to polish its green credentials. No other host nation has invested as much time and money to shape its image ahead of the annual climate negotiations. The UAE hired a US-based PR firm, First International Resources, to "counteract all negative press and media reports" around

9500-558: Was launched in 2021 to unite key leaders in business, politics and the third sector to drive US climate momentum. The event takes place in Washington DC providing an action-led platform that drives measurable outcomes on climate policy and business action, with attendees at the heart of the agenda. The Leaders’ Forum, the flagship event of the summit, brings together over 200 climate leaders for an agenda curated to facilitate big conversations on stage while allowing leaders to drill into

9600-412: Was originally scheduled to end on 12 December, but had to be extended following Saudi objections on the final agreement. On 13 December, the conference president, Sultan Al Jaber announced that a final compromise agreement between the countries involved had been reached. The deal commits all signatory countries to move away from carbon energy sources "in a just, orderly and equitable manner" to mitigate

9700-442: Was questioned due to its relative expensiveness and lack of effectiveness in comparison to other methods. The participants of the conference pledged 85 billion dollars to different climate issues and made ten pledges: Numerous sessions at COP28 were devoted to the impact of climate change on public health; it was the first COP to address the topic. "Lethal humidity," or 100% humidity at temperatures of 35 °C (95 °F),

9800-423: Was reached under which the final text called for countries to "end their dependence" on fossil fuels "in a just, orderly and equitable manner", while stopping short of calling for a full phase-out. The agreement also called for a tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030, the development of numerous "zero- and low-emission technologies", further efforts "towards the phase-down of unabated coal power" and

9900-545: Was relevant to his mayoral duties, accepting gifts like travel and accommodation was not aligned with his official responsibilities. The head of the International Monetary Fund , Kristalina Georgieva , expressed satisfaction from the beginning of the conference because the loss and damage fund was created, but said that for further decarbonisation carbon pricing should be advanced and fossil fuel subsidies eliminated. Fossil fuel subsidies reached

10000-425: Was using its position as the primary advisor to COP28 hosts, the United Arab Emirates , to push the interest of its oil and gas clients ( ExxonMobil and Aramco ). McKinsey has been accused of putting its own interests ahead of the climate by sources involved in preparatory meetings for COP28. McKinsey's energy scenario for the COP28 presidency would allow for continued investment in fossil fuels, which would undermine

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